Earth digging bucket



Filed Dec. 11.

FIG. 2'

E. H. KLUCKHOHN EARTH DIGGING BUCKET 4 Sheets-Sheet l RECEIVING TANK 2| INVENTOR- Edwurd H. Kluckhohn BY M, 06w M E. H. KLUCKHOHN EARTH DIGGING BUCKET Sgpt. 22, 1953 Filed Dec. 11, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Edward H. Kluckhohn Sept. 22, 1953 EH. KLUCKHOHN 2,652,639

EARTH DIGGING BUCKET Fi'led Dec. 11, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 5

INVENTOR. Edward H Kluckhohn P 1953 E. H. KLUCKHOHN EARTH DIGGING BUCKET 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 11, 1947 O 1 W F INVENTOR.

Edward H. Kluckhohn BY M, owe "MM AH s Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncE EARTH DIGGING BUCKET Edward H. Kluckhohn, Naperville, Ill.

Application December 11, 1947, Serial No. 791,028

4 Claims.

Thepresent invention relates to earth digging buckets and particularly to such buckets employed in removing and transplanting trees, or the like.

Heretofore, in transplanting a tree, the tree has been removed from the earth by first digging a surrounding trench; the roots of the tree are undercut; and then the tree is lifted by its trunk from the resulting hole in the earth together with any earth adhering to the roots thereof. The roots of the tree are then wrapped in burlap cloth or the like in order to prevent further damage thereto and to retain in place as much of the adhering earth as possible. Next the tree is transported to the site of a previously prepared hole in the earth; the burlap cloth is removed from the roots; the roots are lowered into the hole employing the trunk of the tree; the trunk is then straightened into a substantially vertical position; and ultimately the hole is filled with earth about the roots of the tree.

Not only is this method laborious and expensive, but a considerable number of trees thus transplanted ultimately die. This results not only from the cbvious damage to the roots of the tree, but also from the damage to the trunk of the tree, which damages are inherent in the method. Moreover, it is believed that the loss of the original clump of earth enveloping the mass of roots of the tree, which loss is also inherent in the method, is another important factor in the mortality rate experienced incident to transplanting;

Accordingly, it is a general object of the presen invention to provide an improved earth digging bucket that is especially adapted to removing trees from the earth incident to transplanting.

Another object of the invention is-to provide an improved earth digging bucket that is especially adapted to replacing trees in previously prepared holes in the earth incident to transplanting- 1 r Another object of the invention is to provide an improved digging bucket for removing a tree from the earth incident to transplanting, whereby there is virtually no damage tothe trunk and to the mass of roots thereof, and wherein the original clump of earth enveloping the mass of 2 ditional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an earth working machine of the track-laying type provided with a boom pivotally mounting an earth digging bucket embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic operating system of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the bucket shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the bucket shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower portion of the bucket, similar to Fig. 3, and a detachable apron carried thereby;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the lower portion of the bucket and the apron carried thereby, as shown in Fig. 5; and

Figs. '7 to 10, inclusive, illustrate the sequential steps in the'method of removing a tree from the earth employing a bucket embodying the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the earth working machine II there illustrated is of the conventional Oliver type, comprising an engine l2, tracklaying mechanism l3, transmission mechanism,

not shown, a supporting frame I4 and a boom l5 pivotally mounted on the supporting frame M by an arrangement including a transversally extending pivot bar l5a. Also the machine H comprises two hydraulic rams Ilia and lBb respectively disposed on the right-hand and on the left-hand sides thereof and arranged between the supporting frame l4 and the boom l5 for the purpose of raising the boom l5 with respect to the supporting frame M. "The front end of the boom l5 carries two supporting plates Ila and [lb respectively disposed on the right-hand and on the left-hand sides thereof upon which an earth digging bucket is is pivotally mounted, the bucket l8 embodying the features of the present invention. Further the machine II comprises two hydraulic actuators I9a and I91) respectively arranged on the right-hand and on the lefthand sides thereof, and positioned between the boom l5 and the bucket 18, for the purpose of controlling the position of the bucket IS with respect to the supporting plates 11a and Ill) and consequently with respect to the boom I5. Fi-

nally, the machine comprises control facility, not shown, as well as a hydraulic control system for operating the rams lea and I52) and the actuators Ida and I312.

As shown in Fig. 2, the hydraulic control system comprises a liquid pump 23 driven by the engine |2, a liquid receiving tank 2 I, the two rams 5a and I617, the two actuators lea and lab, a ram control valve 22, an actuator control valve 23 and a pipe or conduit network. The inlet or the pump is connected by an intake pipe 22 to the receiving tank 2|, and the outlet of the pump 20 is connected, by a pressure pipe to the valves 22 and 23 and the valves 22 and 23 are connected by a return pipe 28 to the receiving tank 2|. Finally, the ram control valve 22 is connected to two pipes 27 and 23 to which the rams Ito and |6b are connected in multiple; and the actuator control valve 23 is connected to two pipes 36 and 3| to which the two actuators Ito and |9b are connected in multiple. When the engine I2 is running the pump 22 withdraws liquid from the receiving tank 2| through the intake pipe 24 and pumps it into the pressure pipe 25; whereby either or both of the rams ita and lBb and the actuators Ida and let may be operated by selectively controlling the respective valves 22 and 23.

When the rain control valve 22 is in its release position illustrated, the pressure pipe 25 and the pipe 2? are disconnected; and the pipe 28 and the return pipe 23 are connected; whereby the weight of the boom l5 effects the collapse of the rams liia and ltb. In order to raise the boom it, the ram control valve 22 is rotated from its release position illustrated about in the clockwise direction in order to connect the pressure pipe 25 to the pipe 27 and to disconnect the pipe 28 from the return pipe 26. At this time liquid under pressure from the pressure pipe 25 passes through the ram control valve 22 into the pipe 2? and thence into the cylinders of the rams ita and I62); whereby the pistons of the rams Mia and Nib are thrust out of the cylinders thereof in order to raise the boom it with respect to the pivotally connected supporting frame it. After the boom It has been raised to the required extent, the ram control valve 22 is rotated a few degrees in the counterclockwise direction in order to disconnect the pressure pipe 25 from the pipe 21 without connecting the pipe 23 to the return pipe 25; whereby the trapped liquid in the cylinders of the rams 58a and lfib retain the boom E5 in its raised position. In order to lower the boom it: to its normal position, the ram control valve 22 is rotated further, in the counterclockwise direction back into its release position illustrated in order to connect the pipe 28 to the return pipe 28 without connecting the pressure pipe 255 to the pipe 21 whereby the weight of the boom l5 collapses the rams Mia and i622 forcing the liquid in the cylinders thereof through the pipe 28, the ram control valve 22 and the return pipe 26 back into the receiving tank 2|.

When the actuator control valve 23 is in its hold position illustrated, the pressure pipe 25 and the return pipe 26 are disconnected from both of the pipes 33 and 3|; whereby the liquid disposed in the opposite ends of the actuators Na and |9b is trapped, thereby holding the pistons of the actuators 29a and |9b in their set positions. In order to expand the actuators its and use, the actuator control valve 23 is rotated from its hold position illu-trated about 45 in the clockwise direction in order to connect the pressure pipe 25 to the pipe 30 and to connect the return pipe 23 to the pipe 3|; whereby liquid under pressure in the pressure pipe 25 passes through the actuator control valve 23 into the pipe 33 and the liquid in the pipe 3| passes through the actuator control valve 23 into the return pipe 26. Accordingly, liquid from the pipe 3|] enters the left-hand ends of the cylinders of the actuators l9a and I9?) forcing the pistons thereof toward the right; whereby the actuators lea and I9?) are expanded. In order to contract the actuators |9a and |9b, the actuator control valve 23 is rotated from its holding position illustrated about 45 in the counterclockwise direction in order to connect the pressure pipe 25 to the pipe 3i and to connect the return pipe 26 to the pipe 30; whereby liquid under pressure in the pressure pipe 25 passes through the actuator control valve 23 into the pipe 3| and liquid in the pipe 33 passes through the actuator control valve 23 into the return pipe 26. Accordingly, liquid from the pipe 3| enters the right-hand ends of the cylinders of the actuators I90, and |9b forcing the pistons thereof toward the left; whereby the actuators E90, and I9?) are contracted. In order to retain the actuators I91; and 19b in a set position, it is only necessary to rotate the actuator control valve 23 back into its hold position illustrated, thereby disconnecting the pressure pipe 25 and the return pipe 26 from both of the pipes 33 and 3E whereby the liquid in the left-hand end of the cylinders of the actuators Hm and I9?) is trapped due to the closure of th pipe 30 and liquid in the right-hand end of the cylinders of the actuators l9a and |9b is trapped due to the closure of the pipe 3|.

It will be understood that when the actuators 59a and i9?) are expanded, the bucket I3 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction about its pivots upon the supporting plates Ila and I'll), as viewed in Fig. 1; and when the actuators |9a and Hit are contracted, the bucket |8 is rotated in the clockwise direction about its pivots upon the supporting plates Ila and llb, as viewed in Fig. 1. In view of the above, it will be understood that the boom i5 is raised by the hydraulic rams 58a and I62) and is lowered by the action of gravity when the rams Isa and I6?) are released. On the other hand, the bucket i8 is rotated about the supporting plates Na and Ilb in either direction by the direct action of the hydraulic actuators Mia and I912.

Considering now the construction of the boom i5 and the bucket is in greater detail and referring to Figs. 3 and i, it will be observed that the boom i5 comprises two plates H and 52 arranged in spaced-apart relation and disposed on the right-hand side of the machine i and two plates 43 and 45 arranged in spaced-apart relation and disposed on the left-hand side of the machine I. It will be understood that the plates t 42, 43 and 14 are suitably secured together to form a rigid structure, the rear end of which is pivotally mounted to the frame it by the pivot bar lia, as indicated in Fig. 1. Moreover, the ram |6a is arranged to operate between the right-hand side of the frame hi and the two plates 5| and 42; while the ram ltb i arranged to operate between the left-hand side of the frame M and the two plates 43 and 44. The extreme front ends of the plates 4|, 42, 43 and 4-4 are tied together by a bar 45 extending through aligned openings formed therein; which bar 455 is also instrumental in retaining in place the supporting plates Ila and Mb. More particularly, the supporting plates Ila and llb are substantially triangular in form and project forwardly from the front end of the boom l5 and are respectively secured between the pairs of plates 4|, 42 and 43, 44. Also the plate Ila is further anchored in place by a pin 46 extending through aligned openings formed therein and in the front ends of the plates 4| and 42; and likewise, the plate llb is further anchored in place by a pin 41 extending through aligned openings formed therein and in the front ends of the plates 43 and 44.

The actuators |9a and l9b respectively provided with casings 48 and 49 that respectively terminate in fixtures 56 and 5|; which, in turn, are respectively secured between the pairs of plates 4|, 42 and 43, 44. More particularly, the fixture 56 is pivotally connected to a pin 52 extending between the plates 4| and 42;.while the fixture 5| is pivotally connected to a pin 53 ex- ;tending between the plate 43 and 44. The pistons of the actuators |9a and I!!!) are respectively connected to piston rods 54 and 55 that extend through the respective V casings 48 and 49 and terminate in respective fixtures 54a and 55a.

The bucket l6 comprises a substantially semicylindrical bottom wall 6| and two substantially flat parallel spaced-apart walls 62 and 63 formed integrally therewith to defineopen front and rear faces. The side walls 62 and 63 extend upwardly and rearwardly from thebottom wall 6|, the lead- 3 ing and trailing edges of the side walls 62 and 63 converging upwardly; whereby the depth of the bottom wall 6| is greaterthan that of the side walls 62 and 63. Also the leading edges of the bottom wall 6| and the side walls 62 and 63 are provided with earth-cutting knives respectively indicated at 6|a, 62a and 63a. In order to lend rigidity to the construction of the bucket l8, a substantially vertically disposed plate 66a and a substantially horizontally disposed plate 64b are arranged between the side walls 62 and 63 respectively adjacent to the rear and top edges thereof. This substantially L-shaped structure formed by the plates 64a and 64b is secured in place between the side walls 62 and 63 by welding r or the like. Finally, two fixtures 65 and 66 are respectively secured to the outer surfaces of the side walls 62 and 63 adjacent to the upper ends thereof by welding or the like.

The fixture 65 carries a lower plate 6'! spaced outwardly from the adjacent side wall 62 and receiving the extreme outer end of the adjacent supporting plate Ila; and likewise, the fixture 66 carries a lower plate 68 spaced outwardly from the adjacent side wall 63 and receiving the extreme outer end of the adjacent supporting plate Ill). The side wall 62 of the bucket I6 is pivotally mounted upon the supporting plate I la by an arrangement comprising a pin 69 extending through aligned openings formed in the lower plate 61, the extreme outer end of the supporting plate Ila and the adjacent side wall 62; and likewise, the side wall 63 of the bucket I8 is ivotally mounted upon the supporting plate ||b by an arrangement comprising a pin 16 extending through aligned openings formed in the lower plate 68, the extreme outer end of the supporting plate Nb and the adjacent side wall 63. Also the fixture 65 carries an upper plate 'll spaced outwardly from the adjacent side wall 62 and receiving the fixture 54a carried on the extreme outer end of the adjacent piston rod 54 of the actuator I9a; and likewise, the fixture 66 carries an upper plate 12 spaced outwardly from the adjacent side wall 63 and receiving the fixture 55a carried on the ex.-

6 treme outer end of'the adjacent piston rod 55 0f the actuator I619. The side wall62 of the bucket |6 is pivotally connected to the fixture 54a by an arrangement including a pin 13 extending through aligned openings formed in the upper plate 1!, the fixture 54a and the adjacent side wall 62; 'and likewise, the side Wa1l 63 of the bucket I8 is pivotally connected to the fixture 550. by an arrangement including a pin 14 extend.- ing through aligned openings formed in the upper plate 12, the fixture 55a and the adjacent side wall 63.

Accordingly, the fixtures 65 and 66 respectively carried by the side walls 62 and 63 of the bucket l8 provide lower'pivot attachments, including the lower plates 6! and 66, so that the bucket |8 may be pivotally-mounted upon the supporting plates Hat and Ill) respectively. Moreover, the fixtures 65 and 66 provide upper actuator attachments, including the upper plate II and 12, so that the bucket it may be readily secured to the actuators led and |9b respectively for controlled tilting about the pivot attachments.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the bucket l8 may be provided with a detachable apron 86 that may be removably secured to the bottom wall 6| adjacent to the trailing edge thereof by a series of bolts 8| and cooperating nuts 62. The apron 66 is substantially semi-cylindrical andmaybe readily detachably secured in place within the bottom wall 6| in the manner noted. Preferably, the nuts 82 are arranged adjacent to the leading edge of the apron 86 that, in turn, is disposed over the trailing edge of the bottom wall 6| in order that the heads of the bolts 8| do not materially interfere With earth digging when the apron 86 is utilized with the bucket 8. The trailing edge of the apron 86 is provided with an earth-cutting knife indicated at 86a so that earth digging may be efiected in either direction by the bucket |8 when the apron 86 isattached thereto. Preferably, a plurality of the aprons 86 of different shapes and sizes are provided so that the one best suited to the earth digging operation contemplated may be selected and detachably secured to the bucket 8.

, Considering now the method of transplanting trees and referring to Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, it is pointed out that the machine II is utilized in conjunction with the bucket I8 and that the apron 86 may be attached to the bucketv l8 if desired, although this is not necessary. In carrying out the method, a hole is first prepared in the earth, utilizing the machine and the bucket I8, in which the tree is to be placed. The machine is then employed in removing the tree from its present location. More particularly, the machine is moved to the present location of the tree and aligned with respect to the centerline of the trunk of the tree in the immediate vicinity thereof. Next the actuators 19a and W1) are expanded in order to tilt the After the leading edge of the bottom wall 6| of v the bucket H! has been forced into the earth to a depth somewhat greater than that of the mass of roots of the tree and the side walls .62 and 63 of the bucket l8 are aligned with respect to the opposite sides of the trunk of the tree, the

actuators |6a and |6b are contracted in order to tilt the bucket l8 so that the bottom wall 7 6! thereof is moved into a substantially horizontal position and positioned at a depth greater than that of the mass of roots of the tree. These steps will be readily understood from an examination of Figs. 7 and 8. Next the boom 15 is advanced toward the tree so that the earth entering the open front face of the bucket [8 passes over the bottom wall 61 and out of the open rear face of the bucket 18; which advancement of the boom I is continued until the leading edge of the bottom wall 6| has moved past the mass of roots of the tree and the center of gravity of the tree is disposed above the bottom wall 6|; all as clearly indicated in Fig. 9. At this time, the boom 25 is raised in order to remove the tree, together with the undisturbed clump of earth enveloping the mass of roots of the tree, as indicated in Fig. 10. Subsequently, as the boom i5 is further raised the actuators I911 and l9b are expanded slightly in order to tilt the bucket [8 as it is raised so as to maintain the trunk of the tree in a substantially vertical position. Next the machine II, the bucket 18 and its contents are moved from the vicinity of the old location of the tree to the previously prepared hole in the earth where the tree is to be relocated. At this time the machine H is operated to center the bucket l8 and its con tents with respect to the previously prepared hole; whereupon the boom i5 is lowered and the actuators lSa and [9b are contracted slightly in order to pivot the bucket l to maintain the trunk of the tree in a substantially vertical position. The mass of roots of the tree are thus lowered into the prepared hole until the bottom wall 6| of the bucket I8 rests upon the bottom of the prepared hole. At this time, the machine H is moved away from the prepared hole, the boom is raised and the actuators led and we are expanded to tilt the bucket I8; whereby the bucket I8 is removed from the prepared hole leaving the mass of the roots of the tree therein. At this time the trunk of the tree is straightened with respect to the vertical position and earth is filled into the hole about the clump of earth enveloping the mas of roots of the tree.

This method of transplanting a tree is very advantageous in view of the fact that neither the trunk nor the mass of roots of the tree are in any way damaged incident to the removal of the tree from its old location. Moreover, the original clump of earth enveloping the mass of roots of the tree is preserved and transported along with the tree by the machine ii into the new location; whereby the original clump of earth enveloping the mass of roots of the tree is undisturbed incident to transplanting the tree from its old location to its new location; which factor is considered to be very important in reducing the mortality rate of trees incident to transplanting utilizing the present method. Moreover, the method minimizes handling of the tree as it will be understood that the tree is ordinarily transported from its old location to its new location utilizing the bucket l8, without transferring the tree to another vehicle.

The above described method of transplanting a tree is disclosed and claimed in the copending divisional application of Edward H. Kluckhohn, Serial No. 330,285, filed January 8, 1953.

It is advantageous to utilize the apron Ed in conjunction with the bucket it when the tree being transplanted is fairly large since the apron 18 not only extends the bottom wall iii of the bucketlt preventing disturbance of the origiprincipal mass thereof.

nal clump of earth enveloping the mass of roots of the tree, but it also provides the bucket 18 with earth cutting facility in either direction which may occasionally be required. In, other words, after the leading edge of the bucket has been moved past the mass of roots of the tree as illustrated in Fig. 9, it may be desirable to move the bucket i8 back and forth towardand away from the tree, when the apron is at tached, permitting earth cutting in either direction and the consequent severing of the ends of the roots of the tree projecting beyond the The semi-cylindrical shape of the bottom wall SI of the bucket I8, as well as that of the apron all, is very advantageous in the removal of trees since the principal mass of roots of a tree have a general semi-spherical configuration.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an earth digging bucket of improved construction and arrangement.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An earth digging bucket comprising a forwardly projecting bottom wall and connecting upwardly and rearwardly extending side walls defining open front and rear faces, the leading edges of said bottom and side walls being provided with earth-cutting knives, a rearwardly projecting apron carried by the trailing edge of said bottom wall, the trailing edge of said apron being provided with an earth-cutting knife, pivot attachments secured to said side walls, whereby said bucket may be pivotally mounted upon a support, and actuator attachments secured to said side walls, whereby said bucket may be readily tilted about said pivot attachments with respect to the support;

2. An earth digging bucket comprising a forwardly projecting bottom wall and connecting upwardly and rearwardly extending side walls defining open front and rear faces, the leading edges of said bottom and side walls being provided with earth-cutting knives, a rearwardly projecting apron detachably secured to said bottom wall adjacent to the trailing edge thereof, the trailing edge of said apron being provided with an earth-cutting knife, pivot attachments secured to said side walls, whereby said bucket may be pivotally mounted upon a support, and actuator attachments secured to said side walls, whereby said bucket may be readily tilted about said pivot attachments with respect to the support.

3. An earth digging bucket comprising a forwardly projecting substantially semi-cylindrical bottom wall and connecting upwardly and rearwardly extending substantially flat side walls defining open front and rear faces, the leading edges of said bottom and side Walls being provided with earth-cutting knives, a rearwardly projecting substantially semi-cylindrical apron carried by said bottom wall, the trailing edge of said apron being provided with an earth-cutting knife, pivot attachments secured to said side walls, whereby said bucket may be pivotally mounted upon a support, and actuator attachments secured to said side walls, whereby said 9 bucket may be readily tilted about said pivot attachments with respect to the support.

4. An earth digging bucket comprising a forwardly projecting substantially semi-cylindrical bottom wall and connecting upwardly and rear- Wardly extending substantially fiat side Walls defining open front and rear faces, the leading edges of said bottom and side walls being provided with earth-cutting knives, a rearwardly projecting substantially semi-cylindrical apron detachably secured to the upper surface of said bottom wall adjacent to the trailing edge thereof, the trailing edge of said apron being provided with an earth-cutting knife, pivot attachments secured to said side Walls, whereby said bucket may be pivotally mounted upon a support, and actuator attachments secured to said side walls, whereby said bucket may be readily tilted about said pivot attachments with respect to the support.

EDWARD H. KLUCKHOI-IN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Wick July 4, 1916 Conrad July 19, 1927 Karstedt Jan. 17, 1933 Calkins May 16, 1933 Rasmussen July 18, 1933 Cole et a1 Dec. 12, 1933 Roe Dec. 8, 1936 Levandowsky June 15, 1937 Edwards Sept. 8, 1942 Mork Dec. 1, 1942 Williams July 6, 1948 Cusenbary May 9, 1950 McKenna Apr. 18, 1952 

